TOF

• Basic Principles of Aerodynamics:

  • Lift: Force generated by wings opposing gravity
  • Drag: Force opposing the direction of motion
  • Thrust: Propulsion force forward
  • Weight: Force acting downward
• Airfoil and Lift:

  • Airfoil shape is crucial for lift generation
  • Camber and angle of attack influence lift
  • Bernoulli's principle explains lift
  • As airspeed increases, pressure decreases, creating lift
• Forces Acting on a Glider:

  • Weight acts vertically downward and must be balanced by lift for level flight
  • Thrust provided by glider's forward motion
  • Drag opposes thrust and varies with airspeed
• Stalls and Spins:

  • Stalls occur when critical angle of attack is exceeded
  • Recovery involves lowering the nose and reducing angle of attack
  • Spins result from uncoordinated stalls
  • Recovery involves applying opposite rudder and forward stick
• Glide Performance:

  • Glide ratio is the distance a glider can travel horizontally for a given altitude loss
  • Best glide speed ensures efficient use of potential energy
• Maneuvering:

  • Banking is necessary for turning
  • Load factor increases with bank angle
  • Coordinated turns minimize drag and prevent skidding and slipping
• Flight Envelope:

  • Normal, Utility, and Acrobatic categories have design limitations for different flight conditions
  • Pilots must operate within specified envelopes
• Center of Gravity (CG) and Stability:

  • CG location is critical for stability
  • Forward CG enhances stability but can affect stall recovery
  • Static stability is the initial tendency to return to equilibrium
  • Dynamic stability involves the damping of oscillations
• Effect of Controls:

  • Ailerons control roll about the longitudinal axis
  • Elevator controls pitch about the lateral axis
  • Rudder controls yaw about the vertical axis
• Factors Affecting Performance:

  • Altitude and density altitude affect performance
  • Weight affects lift, stall speed, and maneuverability
• Load Factor:

  • Load factor is the ratio of the lift force to the weight of the aircraft
  • Load factor increases with bank angle during turns
  • Effects on stall speed and limitations must be considered
• Types of Load Factors:

  • Positive load factor occurs during normal flight, climbs, and turns
  • Negative load factor can occur during inverted flight or negative-G maneuvers
  • Structural limits exist for positive and negative load factors
• Stability:

  • Static stability is the initial tendency to return to equilibrium
  • Center of Gravity (CG) limits must be maintained for stable flight
  • Dynamic stability involves damping oscillations over time
• Wing Basics:

  • Airfoil shape, chord line, and camber are crucial for lift generation
  • Angle of attack affects lift coefficient
• Wing Geometry:

  • Wing span, area, aspect ratio, and loading influence lift and efficiency
• Wing Types:

  • Rectangular, tapered, sweptback, and delta wings have different characteristics
• Wing Loading and Performance:

  • High wing loading results in higher stalling speed and better performance in strong winds
  • Low wing loading leads to lower stalling speed and better performance in lighter winds
• Flaps and Spoilers:

  • Flaps increase lift and wing camber during takeoff and landing
  • Spoilers reduce lift and increase drag for rapid descent
• Winglets:

  • Reduce induced drag and enhance fuel efficiency
• Wing Design Considerations:

  • Wing materials, strength, flexibility, and design impact performance
• Parasite Drag:

  • Form drag, skin friction, interference drag, cooling drag, and gear/antenna drag contribute to parasite drag
• Induced Drag:

  • Linked to lift production and wingtip vortices
  • Increases with lift and inversely proportional to airspeed
• Total Drag:

  • Minimized by controlling parasite and induced drag for optimal performance
• Profile Drag:

  • Sum of parasite and induced drag for a specific airfoil section
  • Influences airfoil design for improved efficiency
• Interrelationship between Lift and Drag:

  • Lift-to-Drag Ratio (L/D) indicates gliding efficiency